Mewborn Team Real Estate Consultants: CoastalLuxurySanDiego.com

August 29th, 2009

La Costa Oaks Neighborhood Watch

Categories: Communities, La Costa Oaks

La Costa Oaks Neighbors,

The La Costa Oaks neighborhood watch is underway.  We have spoken to a number of La Costa Oaks neighbors who are eager to get the watch up and running.  Here are a couple of things to know about the La Costa Oaks neighborhood watch:
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: La Costa Oaks, La Costa Oaks Neighbors

Posted by Mike and Amy Mewborn// Please leave a comment.

August 27th, 2009

Leucadia Art Walk – Sunday, August 30

Categories: Community Events, Community Favorites, Leucadia

Leucadia Art Walk returns with its 5th Annual event. 

Leucadia Art Walk is on Sunday, August 30th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm along Highway 101 in Leucadia. 

Whether you live in Carlsbad, Leucadia, Encinitas, La Costa, or anywhere on our lovely San Diego coast, this free community event has something for the whole family. 

The day will showcase local artists and galleries.  There will also be live entertainment, children’s activities, and much more.  For more information, visit the Leucadia 101 Main Street website.

Tags: Encinitas Community Events, Encinitas Favorites, Leucadia Community Events, Leucadia Favorites

Posted by Mike and Amy Mewborn// Please leave a comment.

August 24th, 2009

Carlsbad Real Estate For Sale – Is a Rent To Own Right For You?

Categories: Buyers, Carlsbad, Foreclosure Prevention, Home Loans, La Costa, Oceanside, Real Estate FAQ, San Marcos, Sellers

Carlsbad, CA – With Carlsbad real estate buyers scarce and Carlsbad mortgages tight, some home sellers are offering rent-to-own options to potential buyers in place of your traditional transaction.

Rent-to-own contracts, usually require buyers to pay a premium on each month’s rent and sometimes an up front fee/deposit of about 5% of the purchase price. The regular rent then goes in owner’s pocket (presumably to pay the mortgage), but the additional payments are used to buy down the price of the home. Read the rest of this entry »

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August 22nd, 2009

Are You Considering Downsizing?

Categories: Buyers, Carlsbad, Market Trends, Relocation, Sellers

Carlsbad, Ca – According to the US Census Bureau, for the first time since 1994 – the average home size dropped. Home size actually went down by almost 7%.

There are many possible reasons for smaller homes:
1. Aging boomers: As people are living longer, more Carlsbad couples are selling the big houses in favor of a smaller, single story home with less yard (and maintenance). We are finding that La Costa and Carlsbad single story homes are often on the market for a fraction of the time as a similar square footage two-story. The demand for these homes are increasing dramatically! Also as baby boomers are becoming empty nesters, many are choosing to trade in their big home for an RV or more vacations.

2. Affordability – We often find that Carlsbad real estate buyers stretch to buy the biggest, best house they can afford. In times of economic distress – layoffs, declining property values, decreasing wages, people just can’t afford the big house any more. Factor in increases in San Diego energy and water costs, more homeowners are realizing that maybe they need to revisit their monthly housing expenses.

3. Tight credit markets – Any loan above $417k is still a jumbo loan. Even though homes within the expanded limits are often called high balance conforming loans – these and other jumbo mortgages are harder (and more expensive) to get. As Carlsbad interest rates rise, home buyers will be able to afford less and less.

If you have any questions Carlsbad, Oceanside, Encinitas, and other north county coastal San Diego real estate or mortgage topics, please contact us. We are always happy to answer your questions.

Tags: Carlsbad, La Costa

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August 20th, 2009

La Costa Town Square project approved

Categories: Carlsbad, Communities, La Costa, La Costa Oaks, La Costa Town Square

The Carlsbad City Council this week approved La Costa Town Square, a combination shopping center, office and residential project on 83 acres at the northeast corner of Rancho Santa Fe Road and La Costa Avenue. According to the project developer, Aspen Properties, the center could begin construction as soon as summer 2010 and open by the end of 2011. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: La Costa Town Square

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August 19th, 2009

Encinitas Real Estate – Swami’s Cafe – An absolute MUST!

Categories: Communities, Community Favorites, Encinitas

If you read our blog often, you probably know that one of Mike and my favorite things to do in the summer is to go to breakfast at the little local beach restaurants. There are so many great choices in Del Mar, Encinitas, Leucadia, and La Costa.

One of our absolute favorites is Swami’s in Encinitas. Swami’s is about a half mile from Swami’s beach and is a favorite of both the local surfers, as well as the local bikers – and I guess really anyone else who has lived in the Solana Beach, Encinitas, Leucadia, or Carlsbad area for more than a few months! Swamis specializes in alfresco dining – with all dining done outside on their front and side patios.

Almost any time you come to the restaurant – the line can be up to 50 people long, past The Outgrown Shop next door. Open for breakfast and lunch from 7:00 am to 4 pm, you will not be disappointed by Swami’s food. Swami’s Cafe specializes in making everything your way! Don’t be afraid to ask to change something up or make that omelette an egg white omelette instead (at no extra charge).

The portions are large and the food is wonderful! The menu varies from your extremely healthy Acai berry bowl to the Mexican favorite Huevos Rancheros, to the amazing omelettes. The pancakes are HUGE and scrumptious! Most breakfast items are around $8. The Swami’s website has a menu, but I don’t believe it has been updated in at least a year. The prices do not match the prices in the restaurant menu.

The bottomless coffee bar has abour 7 different coffee varieties – ranging from your traditional Columbian to a vanilla nut.

During mid morning (especially on weekends), the crowds can be a bit overwhelming – but the food is definitely worth the wait. If you are looking for a nice way to spend a morning with your family – take a walk, a bike ride, or your car down to the heart of Encinitas for a wonderful little breakfast at Swami’s Cafe.

Posted by Mike and Amy Mewborn// Please leave a comment.

August 17th, 2009

La Costa Town Square Update – August 2009

Categories: Carlsbad, Communities, La Costa, La Costa Oaks, La Costa Town Square

La Costa, CA – For those who live in La Costa, particularly neighboring La Costa Oaks, feelings and opinions are running high about the potential approval of the construction of La Costa Town Square.  La Costa Town Square is a development of Aspen Properties that is expected to be built on an 83 acre parcel at the corner of La Costa Avenue and Rancho Santa Fe Road.

The opinions are wide and varying!  Some La Costa Oaks residents are excited about having the potential La Costa Town Square within walking distance.  They are hoping for nice restaurants and boutique shopping.

Some La Costa Oaks (and other Carlsbad residents) are concerned about what may be coming to our neighborhood.  Many residents oppose a big box tenant, and came to the most recent Carlsbad City Planning meeting with photos of other big box locations that are already unoccupied (Circuit City, Linens and Things, Albertsons on El Camino Real Encinitas, Vons at the corner of El Camino Real and La Costa Avenue).  Everyone wants to see La Costa Town Square represent our neighborhood – a development of beautiful homes, with a small town neighborhood feel!

At the Carlsbad City Planning meeting on August 11th, the city decided that they wanted another week to think about their recommendations before giving any approval or disapproval of La Costa Town Square.  One thing that they mentioned is that if they approve the project, they may require the land across Rancho Santa Fe to be single family residences, rather than multi-family.  They are no longer hearing testimony, but they are requesting from Aspen that the La Costa Town Square development be at least as nice as the Forum Shops.

Although we don’t yet know how this will play out, we are all eager to find out!  This will change the landscape of our community – either for the better or the worse!

Tags: La Costa Oaks, La Costa Oaks Neighbors, La Costa Town Square

Posted by Mike and Amy Mewborn// Please leave a comment.